Week 2: Psalm 119:71

71 “It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn your decrees.” (NIV)

In response, Misty wrote: I know that God allows faith tests in the form of temptations, problems and difficulties, to drive me into his word so I can learn His truths in deeper ways.

I like this one because it talks about affliction, but was definitely written before her first run in with cancer, or any major affliction as we would think of it. If I had to guess, I’d say this was circa 1998 (she was probably 17 yrs old), definitely before her first brain surgery in summer of 2000. The truth in this verse became more real as her life progressed, but even at an early age she noted it and found ways to apply it to her life.

Misty has had a few serious afflictions over the years. Besides the cancer story that is documented here, Misty also has her first experience with brain cancer in 2000 when she was a freshman in college. Additionally, during her 6 year period of cancer remission, she had 2 extended periods where she had hives everyday. Mostly on her body and legs, but at times her face and would have to call out of work/school. The longest period was 14 months…quite literally, it was 14 months of constant discomfort. She was no stranger to affliction…but she was no stranger to learning God’s truths either…  

If you have been around for a while, you have seen me write about how much we have learned through this struggle and how God brought Misty to such an amazing point of faith in him. I can’t deny it. I can truly attest to this verse. As Misty walked through affliction, I was there with her – and without any question, we learned God’s decrees. This is not just his promises, but also his law. I live/love/serve better today because of Misty’s affliction. And I hope I don’t make her sound like a leper…she was not. Misty took the pains that were handed to her in so many areas, and as beautifully and graciously used them to make herself better. 

The challenge here is that we make good use of the “afflictions” in our lives. We should not waste these opportunities to let us turn to the Bible.

I can’t tell you how much I have learned from Misty. She was hands-down the single most discerning person I have ever known. She would tell me her gut feeling on a person or an idea and she was just about never wrong (I have lots of stories about what she has taught me, but those are for a later evening blog). Today, I’m starting to post a weekly snapshot from the index cards that Misty wrote. Most of them are scripture (which speaks for itself), but others (like today’s) have additional notes that she left on the back of the card. My hope is that these posts (as well as others on this site) continue to provoke you to thoughts about God and how the heck we really should be living on this planet. Even if you don’t believe in God, Misty’s notes are a reminder to pursue what we desire with all our heart and to find new ways to reach our often lofty goals (in her case, the goal was knowing God). A reminder that you aren’t too young (or too old) to get started and you are never too far down the road to keep holding on.

Week 1 – James 1:25

25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (NIV)

I find this teaching to be core to Christianity, but in recent years, when you look at the larger institution, you will not see this exemplified. We do not regularly look intently into the word. I am so guilty of this. I find blocks of time when I read and study, but my daily study and even prayer life has historically been greatly lacking. I’m getting better…but still have a long way to go. And I’m not talking about reading the Bible for 8 hours a day…I’m just talking about a consistent time that is focused only on study and prayer. I don’t get that…but yes, I’m getting better. Like Misty points out, acting on our belief is just one part, we also need to “constantly review God’s truth”. I often think I know the truth and I usually do act on what I believe, but when I get back to reading the Bible, I find that I may have been just a little off in my thinking and therefore in my acting. If we stay close to the source of truth, our efforts will more likely me aligned.